Should I do proactive maintenance on an older car?

Q. I have a 2013 Acura ILX 2.0 with 95,000 miles. The car is driven about 4,000 miles per year and we intend to keep it. I have slowly been doing maintenance on it to keep it up, and am now considering replacing the serpentine belt – which I guess is the alternator belt – and replacing the spark plugs. Neither has even been replaced. I have an estimate of $229 on the belt (one hour labor and $80 for the part) and $281 for the plugs (one hour labor plus $132 for four Iridium spark plugs). This is not a quote from an Acura dealer. This seems like a lot, especially for the cost of the spark plugs. I assume you concur with doing this additional maintenance. Is the price appropriate? The car currently runs fine and starts with no issues.

A. It is always best to maintain a car rather than wait for issues while you are on the road. Looking at AllData, the database I use, the labor times have been rounded up a bit to one hour for each job. All shops mark up parts. This can be anywhere from 40 to 100 percent over what the shop pays at local parts houses. The dealer would charge $45 per spark plug and $59 for the drive belt. If you like the shop you are using and they have treated you well in the past, yes, they may be a little high, but certainly not outrageous. To answer your question, yes, proactively doing maintenance on an 11-year-old car is a good idea.

Q. I recently went to the dealer to have an oil change, tire rotation, and a recall performed on my 2023 Toyota Tacoma.  I marked all of the tire positions, and the tires were not rotated. When I questioned the oil change (no charge as part of the sales contract), they said there was miscommunication between the tech and the advisor. The tech felt the oil wasn’t dirty and didn’t need changing. But where I am really concerned is about the recall, how do I know it was performed? I called the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and they said to complain to Toyota. I am worried my axles could come off.

A. It certainly sounds like it is time to look for a new dealership. The recall, I believe, was for a possibility that the bolts on the axle flange could become loose due to welding slag under the fasteners. This is pretty obvious for someone to check and also loosen the nuts and retighten them to the proper specification, which is 33-foot pounds.

Q. I think the key fob batteries on my Santa Fe are starting to go after 4-5 years. Does that sound right?  If this is the case, is it do-it-yourself or take it to a shop?

A. Key fob battery life can vary, in my experience, from one to 10 years. I was evaluating a less than one-year-old Genesis and got a warning that the key wasn’t detected. The battery was low, and I needed the physical key to open the door and had to push the start button with the key fob for the car to start. Like the Genesis, your Hyundai uses a very popular CR2032 button battery and can be easily installed with just a small screwdriver. 

Q. I am going to Cape Cod for 10 days starting Labor Day and wanted to know about local car museums or other fun things to do for the week. 

A. The Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich has about 45 cars in a Shaker Barn, as well as other attractions and beautiful grounds. Then there is Toad Hall in Hyannis Port. The last time I was there, there were over 50 sports cars, mostly English, with a Mazda, Ferrari, and Datsuns as well. What was interesting was they were all red. There is also the Seaside Lemans Race (Sept. 7) at Mashpee Commons. This is a charity go-kart race that uses European style F1 racing karts that raise money for local charities. 

Q. Not a question, I just wanted to let you know about one of your suggestions. Several years back I asked you about something my daughter and I could do together. She worked on her cheap Jeep before she was old enough to drive it and is now in engineering school. We took your advice and purchased a Factory Five Cobra kit car. We worked and tinkered whenever we had free time, and it was a great experience. Also, the folks at Factory Five Racing were great to deal with. 

A. Thanks for the comments. Over the years, readers have told me about these experiences, from building cars, boats, and houses, and how it made lasting memories and, in your case, a great car. 

Q. I have a 2009 Toyota Camry. It runs great but the air conditioner just doesn’t blow cold air. When I turn it on, the compressor engages but no cold air. Any simple things I can check? 

A. You should start by looking at the pressures in the system, using gauges. If you don’t have access to a gauge set, then let the AC run and feel the hoses going in and out of the evaporator. One should be cold, and one should be warm. If one is frosty cold, I suspect the interior blend door is stuck. If the lines are warm, then you could have a stuck control valve. 

John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE-certified master technician. E-mail your Car Doctor question to [email protected]. Listen to the Car Doctor podcast at johnfpaul.podbean.com.